Rudder



April 7, 1931 c5. EJCORCORAN 1,800,135

RUDDER Filed Oct. 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESSES Gemyei'. Carcoluzz G. E. CORCORAN RUDDER April 7, 1931.

Filed Oct. 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ask A I rill/1111111 INVENTOR Geovye l7. Corco 'avz BY ATTORNEYS patented Apr. 7, 1931 GEORGE EUSTIS CORCORAN, .OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RUDDER Application filed October 2, 1930. Serial No. 485,982.

This invention relates to apparatus for maneuvering various types of craft, and, while not necessarily restricted thereto, the

same is particularly designed for use on watercraft, particularly the larger sizes of powervessels.

It is common knowledge that the rudder ofa vessel begins to lose its efiiciency below a predetermined speed and thereafter gradually loses its effectiveness to perform its function as a means for maneuvering the ship until it reaches a point of total ineifectivek ness. 1

It is, therefore, the principal object of the 1 present invention to provide a rudder equipped with auxiliary means for guiding and maneuvering a ship, even after the driving momentum has completely ceased, and this without in the slightest affecting the normal use of the rudder when the vessel is traveling at a speed where the rudder is fully efficient.

"As a further object, the invention aims to provide an auxiliary guiding and maneuvering means for a shlp which may be controlled coincident with or independent of the rudder,

whereby to make forgreater efliciency and more accurate maneuvering of a vessel, while inimany instances eliminating the employment of tugs as an aid to the vessel, and in 0 emergencies being useful in avoiding col- Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of an improved rudder which is comparatively simple in its construction and 5 mode of operation, inexpensive to produce and install, which maybe adapted to practically any type of ship and which is highly eflicient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in taken approximately on the line indicated at 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. i

Referring to thedrawings by characters of reference, A designates the stern portion of the hull of a vessel provided With the usual propelling means B. The apparatus constituting the subject matterof the present invention which is designed for maneuvering the vessel includes a rudder 5 having a properly stream-lined external configuration to permitit to perform its function withthe least amount of head resistance. The opposite sides of the rudder 5 are provided with recesses 6 and 7, within which are respectively mounted for rotation, propelling devices 8 and 9 such as the oppositely pitched screw propellers secured to axially aligned stub shafts 10 and 11 which extend inwardly through the opposite sides of the rudder. Suitable fluid tight stuffing boxes 12 and 13 are provided, through which the stub shafts l0 and 11 extend, and beveled pinions 14 and 15 are keyed to the inner ends of the stub shafts and located within theconfines of the rudder. A beveled gear 16 meshes with the beveled pinions 14 and 15 and is secured to a drive shaft 17 which extends upwardly throughthe tubular rudder post or shaft 18. Theupper end of the rudder post or shaft 18 has secured thereto a gear 19, with which a segment 20 meshes, to afford means for turning the rudder. The upper end of theta drive shaft 17 extends above the upper end of the rudder post or shaft 18 and is connected to an independent motor 21 or equivalent means for rotating the drive shaft 17 in opposite directions for driving the propelling devices 8 and 9 in unison. In order to aiford means for carrying away water from the leading propeller and for supplying water to the following propeller, a rear passageway 21 extends transversely through theruddcr and establishes communication between the rear portion of the recesses 6 and 7. A pair of rearwardly diverging passage ways 22 and 23 extends from a common port 24 in the leading edge of the rudder respec- 1m? tively to the forward portions of the recesses 6 and 7 The passageways 22 and 23 and the port 24 also permit the water to freely pass therethrough to reduce head resistance when the rudder is in axial alignment with the ship. r

In use and operation, when the vessel is traveling above a predetermined speed, the rudder 5 will function in its ordinary capacity without the aid of the propelling devices 8 and 9. VJhen the vessel is traveling below a speed at which the rudder efiiciently functions, the motive power for the propelling devices 8 and 9 is rendered active to dr've said devices in the desired direction to properly maneuver the vessel. When .the

pelling devices are driven in one directhat no-additional head resistanceis ofiered, and with the propellers 8 and 9 at rest, the

rudder will function in its usual capacity. In event of failureof the driving power for thepropelling devices 8 and 9, it is apparent that the use of the rudder in its ordinary capacity is not affectedh From the foregoing, i that an apparatus. has been devised for maneuvering a vessel, by virtue of which the/ same may be more accurately and efiectually handled, especially at low speed, where the efficiency of the usual rudder is decreased.

- It is also within the province of the present invention to employ the device in many instances in lieu of a tug or tugs fordocking a vessel and if not entirely eliminating the use of tugs, effecting a reduction in the number required. V i V lVhile there has been illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that,

no limitation is intended to the precise struo tural details, as variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when de sired.

. What is claimed is: j

1. An apparatus ofthe'indicated character, having the combination of a rudder ef- V ficient to steer a ship at a predetermined speed and means within the confines of said rudder for exerting a thrust at an angle tothe plane of the rudder to maneuver the ship in-- dependent of the rudder surfaces either when t will thus be seen traveling below said predetermined speed or having no way. r

2. Anapparatus of the indicated character, having the combination of a rudder efficient to steer a ship a predetermined speed and means within the confines of said rudder for maneuvering the ship independent of the rudder surfaces either when traveling below said predetermined speed or having no way, said means including a propelling device adapted to exert a thrust at an angle to the plane of the rudder.

3 An apparatus of the indicated character, having the combination of a rudder eliicient to steer a ship at a predetermined speed, means within the confines of said rudder formaneuvering the ship independent of the rudder surfaces either when traveling below said predetermined speed or having no way, said means including a propelling device adapted to exert a thrust at an angle to the plane of the rudder and means for driving the propelling device through the rudder post.

4, An apparatus of the indicated character, having the combination of a rudder eflicient to steer. a ship at predetermined speed,

means within the confines of said rudder for maneuvering the ship independent of the rudder surfaces either when traveling below said predetermined speed or having no way, said means including a propelling device adapted to exert a'thrust at an angle to the plane of the rudder and means for reversibly driving the propelling device through the rudder post. I

5. In an apparatus of the indicated character, a rudder having recessed opposite sides, propelling devices within said recessed portions, power transmission means within the rudder, means for reversibly driving 7 said power transmission means located eXteriorly of the rudder and extending through the rudpower transmission means located exteriorly of the rudder and extending through the rudder post, said rudder having a transverse passageway establishing communication between the recessed opposite sides.

8. In an apparatus of the indicated character, a rudder having recessed opposite sides,

NIH

propelling devices within said recessed portions, power transmission means within the rudder, means for reversibly driving said power transmission means located exteriorly of the rudder and extending through the rudder post, said rudder having a transverse passageway establishing communication between the recessed opposite sides and having rearwardly diverging passageways communicating with a common port in the leading edge of the rudder and respectively communicating with the recessed opposite sides thereof. p

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 1st day of October, 1930.

GEORGE EUSTI S GORGORAN. 

